Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-29
RAILROAD TR AIMS ON THE
STREETS.
They Must Not Obstruct Travel

They Must Not Obstruct Travel.
THE NEW JERSEY AVENUE CROSSING cAss-JuDGR
SMELL IMPOSES FINE OF SIS. AND WILL IN
CREASE THE PENALTY IF THE PRACTICE Is CON-
TINuED.
The case of VIM. Elliott, the freight conductor
on the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, charged
by Offlcers Petritz and Royal with obstructing
New Jersey avenue southeast with a freight train,
was called for trial In the Police Court this morn
ing. The prosecution was brought under the
police regulation which requires trains to pass
street crossings at rate OF speed not slower than
miles an hour. Mr.. McKenney, for the defend
ant, entered q plea OF not guilty. Mr. Padgett ap-
peared for the District.
Ofncer Petr1tz testified that Monday night q
freight train In charge OF the defendant obstructed
New Jersey avenue for twelve minutes. 1he train
moved away and returned in q few minutes, OBJ
structtng the crossing for i've minutes The gates
at the crossing were down and ali travel was
stopped for the time stated. On croSs-examina-
tion witness said he supposed the conductor was
engaged In coupling the cars, as the train moved
% Mr PadSett said he uu had @ aposher ae ocer Whose
testimony was the same as that Of the previous
~ suppose :the officers testimony is correct. -
said Mr. McKenney. The defendant then testified
that he was at work making up train OF 30 cars
and the squares were not long enough to make up
the train was at the New Jersey avenue crossing
about twenty or twenty-five minutes during
which time the thoroughfare was opened three
times
Mr.. Padgett said that there had been great
many complaints made against the railroad COM
pany for obstructing THIS crossing. New Jersey
the persons In that section OF the city, and should
therefore be kept open all the time. He did not
think there was any necessity for the railroad COM
pany to obstruct the crossing when they have 30
many tracks on the three adjoining sQuare& The
law requires them to pass crossings at rate Of
speed not less than ve miles an hour, and he felt
obliged TO call the courts attention to the neces.
fendant is concerned he had no desire to have him
nned heavily, but he knew the railroad would look
after its employees as he had doubt that the de-
fendant DID what he was directed TO do All the
ttce.
Mr.. McKenny said that the railroad company
had not enough room 70 make up their trains
deal o. this practice by purchasing square Of
mission TO enter the square. The company. he
law. The company had purchased two or three
squares OF ground, and are doing everything In
their power to get the cars on the street.
defendant had done what he was directed TO do
and he did not think IL was the DEFENDANTS fault
20 much as it was the railroad companyH
that II the nuisance ceases. very wen, but Il it
does not he would have to hold them TO the full
extent OF the law, which Is nne Of Slo0.
War Depaxtmens Changes.
Joseph LAnsey, clerk class one, Quartermaster.
Generals once, resigned.
Thomas. J. saundera agent transferred 20 The
Quartesmastse-0eneralS Omce
= Wniteside, Of AassachusettA declined IN
appointment - CLERK ct q, ,OO0
Yesterday was the third day Of rsgistratoa IN
Msv o YORK ana thus fr ths registration aggregates